Armed Forces to introduce new role of "Army Combat Support Officer"

In another innovative and exciting move, it was today announced that, following on the success of the Police Community Support Officer role, the Army will be introducing a new grade of "Army Combat Support Officer".

Designed to build on the value that has been added to public safety and security by PCSO's in our communities, Combat Support Officers will be swiftly deployed to a number of theatres of operations to assist our trained soldiers and provide synergies in combat environments.

Following a thorough 2-week training and induction programme, involving weapons handling and appropriate body bag use, Combat Support Officers will be ready to face most of the challenges that fully-trained soldiers take on. Rather than the more expensive option of equipping Combat Support Officers with the standard SA80 fully automatic machine gun, they will be given the equally efficaceous Lee-Enfield Mk1, combat-proven since 1900.

This will free up trained soldiers' time and add considerable value to their shooting & killing duties. By taking on less strategic roles such as aid distribution and guard duties, Combat Support Officers can make the armed forces work in a more holistic and joined-up manner.

The first cohort of Combat Support Officers are to be deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan shortly, as fully-trained troop numbers are reduced in-theatre.

Defence Minister Patricia Hubris welcomed the move by saying that "Our Armed Forces are experiencing their Best Year Ever, and the new position of Combat Support Officer can only add to our recent successes against international terrorism."

Airlines follow NHS lead & introduce Advanced Aviation Practitioners

The NHS has made significant advances in quality and efficiency via the introduction of the Advanced Nurse Pratitioner and Surgical Care Practitioner roles. This has been achieved by adding value to the roles of existing staff and achieving synergies as part of a robust, joined-up, forward-looking approach towards achieving excellence in patient care.

Now we are thrilled to announce that a number of major international airlines have followed the NHS's lead in delivering ever-better services via an innovative new scheme, namely the introduction of a new post called the Advanced Aviation Practitioner.

This will mean that airlines will no longer rely on old-fashioned and elitist working models such as the tradtional 'Pilot' and 'Co-Pilot' combination. Images of Porsche-driving pilots festooned in gold-trimmed uniforms have long been seen as outmoded in today's competitive, lower-priced aviation environment.

Thus, by upgrading the role of existing 'Cabin Crew' members to the status of Advanced Aviation Practitioner, employees will be able to work in new and exciting ways. No longer will aircraft be flown by overpaid and inflexible pilots, backed up by a co-pilot. Instead, by extracting synergies from the wealth of experience that Cabin Crew have in superior service delivery, aircraft will be flown by a Co-pilot assisted by an Advanced Aviation Practitioner.

Critics have said that this amounts to a 'dangerous dumbing down' of the aviation workforce, and concerns have been raised about whether Advanced Aviation Practitioners will be able to cope in midair crisis situations,such as engine fires, equipment malfuntions and so on.

However, Patricia Flewitt (Secretary of State for All Things Related to the Air) strongly refuted these claims as absurd by saying "This has been the Best Year Ever for the aviation industry, and we welcome the introduction of innovative schemes such as the Aviation Practitioner role."

NHS - Best Year Ever!

It's been a great year. Doctors, nurses, healthcare professionals and - most importantly, patients - have all had first-hand experience of what has been an exciting time of continuing change and improvement in the NHS.

Here you can read about how the Health Secretary, Patricia Hewitt, forsaw in April last year that this would be the BEST YEAR EVER for the NHS.

Sadly, some within our society sought to undermine the government's drive for progress and development in healthcare. You can read what they had to say here, here,
here, here, here, here and here.

And here you can read about how the Prime Minister's Office dealt with these ludicrous concerns, by attributing so-called problems in the NHS to a 'perception gap'.

As we have all reaped the benefits of progress and reform in the health service - why not send us your experiences of how joined-up thinking and strategic vision have transformed the NHS?

We'd love to hear from you.

WELCOME

Given that we have just lived through what is universally regarded as being the BEST YEAR EVER, we welcome you to share your experiences of excellence and highlight best practice in all areas of British life.

We're looking forward to showcasing key milestones in a number of sectors including:

* The NHS
* Education
* Law and order
* Foreign affairs
* Business and trade

Let's celebrate excellence, together!